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Author
Topic: Where is the international funding of HIV research? (Read 2855 times)

So it was announced today the U.S. Govt (NIH specifically) was ponying up $70 million for HIV cure research (topic on a different thread). Now that got me thinking, since I was diagnosed I have increased my reading and alertness regarding HIV research and I cannot honestly recall coming across an article that states "British govt awards $70 million for HIV research" nor the French, Germans, Australians, etc. The only other entity I have seen that funds research to that scale is the Bill and Melinda Gates Foundation and they are a private enterprise not a government. Why is it that the Gates Foundation funds research to a greater extent than most other wealthy countries?

Now I understand that since I live in the U.S. I am reading US biased news coverage and all. But you would think if other countries were funding research on a large scale we would read about it. Is it just not making the news here?

I'm I missing something? If the UK, France, Germany, Australia all pony'd up $70 million think of the progress! Do they fund it quietly?

Also, I do recognize the French for their early work in HiV, just dont hear a lot from them lately.

I cannot honestly recall coming across an article that states "British govt awards $70 million for HIV research" nor the French, Germans, Australians, etc. T

Maybe they think the money is better spent on keeping those who are already living with HIV alive and healthy by giving them free medication... it would seem the US is more interested in research and not so much on helping US citizens who are going without because they won't fund the medication, last I heard there was a desperate need for Meds, especially for those living with HIV and can't afford insurance...just saying.

I was actually just thinking the exact same thing you wrote. It then leads to huge moral questions such as which is the way to go? If we don't spend the $$ on research then we don't have any treatment to provide anyway. So which is more valuable? Spend money on research or treatment..without research there is no treatment.

Also, isn't the rest of the world (meaning developed countries) that provide treatment for their citizens instead of research doing so off of the treatment's that were paid for by the US government?

New treatment options are developed by the pharmaceutical companies, not the US government. Sure, it may receive funding, but it certainly is not "paid" by it. Also, many of these companies and research centers are really international, full of people from everywhere, regardless of where they are based.

Let's recall as well that Dr. Françoise Barré-Sinoussi, French, is leading efforts to make the international community turn its attention to HIV cure research. And also that Dr. Gero Hutter, German, was the one who cured the "Berlin patient". These countries and many others, like China, India, Brazil and others have research centers, funded by their governments, looking for cheaper medications, a vaccine and even a cure. But it's not surprising someone in the US doesn't receive news about that, first and foremost because news about that are not even in English.